Don't use a shop vac on the carb.....if you pop the diaphragm they are expensive.

If your bike has too rich of a main jet....it could kill your performance.  If your bike is nearly stock I would suggest starting with a #150 main and a #50 Pilot, and 2 - 3 washers on the tapered needle (#4 machine screw washers).

The bottom of the slide diaphragm is exposed to the oval shaped vent at the top of the inlet side of the carb.  Some air most likely leaks past the slide - but it is filtered air and accounted for in the jetting process.  Some folks put on Pod filters that block this vent, and it makes the bike run really poorly.

If you cam or lifters are worn, or if you cam is not properly timed it could affect the power output of the engine, as could a bad ignition circuit or plugged air filter.

Thanks for the responses.
Bike is new to me, It was in non running condition when I bought it (yeah a project). Shows 9000 miles on the odo? I did use the shop vac with leaked vac, and the slide went up about out half way. When I provided a restriction on the input it went all the way up, so I don't think that was the problem.

When I pulled the intake boot the o ring had some fluid under it and showed no signs of being compressed (it may have been a too small substitute?), so I'm guessing that it was not making a seal. I put it back together with some form a gasket, maybe that was my problem?

Thanks for the explanation on how the underside vac is leaked. I was wondering what that oval cutout was for!

Maybe it is just running too rich, I'll order some stock part, needle, two lower jets, and try it. Once the bike hits 45 in either 4th or 5th opening the throttle does nothing at all, not even a sound change.

The needle is back on the normal slot, but the fact they cut the lower one in it indicates ownership by a bozo cowboy.

Wouldn't a cam error effect the compression?

While I'm new to the savage, let me say what a joy it is to only have one carb to work on, I'm used to 4. Of course my last bike had sacred fuel injection, and that is perfect if the gods are with you.

This bike came with a K&N but I shoved some extra foam in there to create more restriction and no change. I also shoved some muffler fiberglass into the Jardine and that also made no change other than my neighbors stopped giving me the stink eye!

Maybe just an intake leak at the boot? Or is that too much magical thinking?

OK, just took it for a ride, I hit 70 in 3rd, and didn't push it beyond that point, I can practically see air under the tires, lol.
What a fun bike, my last bike was an fjir1300 and while I could be missing a lot, the smile on my face running this 'putt putt' is ear to ear.
I love the way this big single shakes itself back to stability when I ask too much of it in too low a gear (yeah I'll learn not to do that, lol).

I think what fixed the bike was sealing the juncture between the diaphragm and the carb body at the top of the carb. I ran the vacuum cleaner tests after that.

Thanks for the help, and who knew a savage could be so much fun!

I'm still giggling!

And it's expensive to replace.